Disadvantages of Linkedin

Written by eric dontigney

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This is one of LinkedIn's office buildings. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images)

Social networking allows people to connect with old friends, share information and stay in touch with family. Many social networking sites focus on these elements. LinkedIn, however, focuses on the business applications of social networking. It allows users to post information such as industry and business interests, which makes it a powerful tool in recruitment of new employees outside the immediate vicinity and connecting with others inside an industry. Like all social networking site, LinkedIn comes with its own set of disadvantages.

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Privacy

One of the major risks of social networking and the Internet in general is breaches in privacy. Sites collect considerable amounts of personal information, with e-mail addresses being one of the most, if not the single most, collected piece of personal data. To reap full advantage of LinkedIn, however, the user typically must disclose information such as current and past employers, as well as current contact information. The user assumes considerably more risk of identity theft in the event of a breach in LinkedIn's security.

Time Investment

As with exercise, any benefits from LinkedIn call for an investment in time. The user must keep profile information up to date, such as contact information and work history. While not an absolute necessity, active participation in groups builds credibility. This means consistently following the threads on the group and not just stopping in once every six months the way one might with professional association conferences. In the worst case scenario, users could fall victim to the addictive nature of social networking and spend too much time on LinkedIn instead of working.

Cost

Unlike most other major social networking sites, LinkedIn runs a multi-tier membership program. A basic membership allows members to run limited types of searches on other users, as well as maintain a profile and directly contact members within the user's network. To gain access to the more advanced features, such as reference searches, directly contacting any LinkedIn member via e-mail and the LinkedIn instant messaging system, the user must pay a monthly fee.

Ethical Issues

Many professional organisations maintain ethical standards to which its members must adhere or risk punishments. For lawyers, depending on the state, LinkedIn profiles constitute a form of advertising. As such, the profile remains subject to any ethical constraints on advertising enforced by the state Bar Association in which a lawyer practices. Other areas of concern include claims of specialisation, client solicitation and testimonial use, any or all of which my fall under ethical constraints depending on location.